Today's Focus:
Army Operational Energy Strategy
SENIOR LEADERS ARE SAYING
"It's always about the people. It was about the Soldiers who were well trained; the young sergeants who emerged from the ranks with strength, discipline, commitment and courage. To have shared so much with, and been so dependent on people of such courage, integrity and selflessness, taught me to believe… As I leave the Army to those with responsibilities to carry on, I'd say service in this business is tough and often dangerous. If I had it to do over again, I'd do some things in my career differently, but not many. I trust in people, and I wouldn't have had it any other way."
- Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, retiring from the U.S. Army after 34 years of service to his nation during both peace and war time, reminisces about having amassed some amazing moments and memories during his career but asserts that he will remember the people he served with the most.
McChrystal retires amid praise for career
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
"When I go out and shoot in a combat zone, I don't always capture what I really see because of shutter speeds, lighting conditions and things like that. Art is the artist's perception. I snap what I can; I just see a lot more than what's there and that's what I've been able to express through some of my artwork. It's my experience that I'm putting on canvas. I don't work from anyone else's photos or sketches, though I do sketch while I'm in the field, but security dictates what I can do out there."
- Master Sgt. Martin J. Cervantez, Army staff artist, Army Center of Military History
'Art of the American Soldier' debuts in September
CALENDAR
July 2010
July 27: 57 th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Agreement
July 27: Army Medicine Birthday
August 2010
Anti Terrorism Awareness Month
National Immunization Awareness Month
Aug 26: Women's Equality Day
Aug 31: End of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF); Transition to Stability Operations
TODAY'S FOCUS
Army Operational Energy Strategy
What is it?
The Operational Energy Strategy is designed to build upon Army warfighting concepts to fully account for energy and power needs. The intent is to gauge and define Army energy requirements in light of their actual operational effects in a deployed or tactical environment.
Thus, the strategy aims to help shape Army Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership, Personnel and Facility (DOTMLPF) solutions, as well as mission-relevant performance goals for the deploying, operational force.
The Operational Energy Strategy is a collaborative effort involving three Army commands or enterprises: G-4 (logistics); the Research, Development and Engineering Command; and the Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC). The Operational Energy Strategy is nested with the Army's comprehensive Energy Security Implementation Strategy.
Why is this important to the Army?
Energy is an operational imperative that affects a wide range of military capabilities, including: maneuverability, sustainability, communications, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Energy dependence creates logistical supply burdens which increase operational vulnerabilities and put Soldiers at risk.
For example, a one-percent reduction of fuel consumption in theater in Iraq or Afghanistan could mean roughly 60 fewer long-distance fuel convoys per year. A fuel convoy typically involves 50-100 Soldiers. So reducing fuel consumption in theater would reduce Soldier risk and likely mean fewer Soldier casualties and fatalities.
Energy security also is important to the Army because it directly affects mission readiness and unit preparedness. Army bases and Soldier training missions require secure and uninterrupted access to energy.
Indeed, both domestically and overseas the Army must retain access to energy and continue to operate even when - and especially when - catastrophe strikes and energy supplies are disrupted, cut off, or just plain difficult to secure.
What has the Army done?
The Army has published a Power and Energy Strategy Whitepaper to help define and articulate its energy requirements in a deployed or tactical environment.
The Army also has spearheaded several initiatives to address specific energy requirements in theater in Iraq and Afghanistan. These initiatives include measures designed to: reduce vehicular fuel consumption, monitor energy use, increase battery life, and reduce battery size and volume.
What is planned for the future?
The Army will publish soon: an Initial Capabilities Document (to identify energy capability gaps and solutions); a Tactical Fuel and Energy Implementation Plan; and a roadmap that spells out the DOTMLPF activities required to effect the Army's Operational Energy Strategy.
Resources:
Army Energy Security Implementation Strategy
Army Capstone Concept (TRADOC Pamhlet 525-3-0) Operational Adaptability: Operating Under Conditions of Uncertainty and Complexity in an Era of Persistent Conflict
Power and Energy Strategy White Paper
STAND-TO! NEWS
ABOUT THE ARMY
- McChrystal ends service with regret and a laugh (New York Times)
- Ex-Walter Reed CSM accused of faking his record (Army Times)
- Aggressive treatment of pain prevents future complications (The U.S. Army)
- Army leaders praise successful network integration exercise (The U.S. Army)
- Dying faces, body bags: How trauma hits a U.S. unit (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
- Opinion: Experts dumbfounded over military suicides (Examiner)
- New robotics obstacle course at Fort McCoy trains Soldiers in vital safety skill (The U.S. Army)
- Army Logistics University hosts historic uncasing ceremony (The U.S. Army)
OVERSEAS OPERATIONS
- View is bleaker than official portrayal of war in Afghanistan (New York Times)
- Leaked files lay bare war in Afghanistan (Washington Post)
- Pakistan aids insurgency in Afghanistan, reports assert (New York Times)
- Mullen tells Afghans the U.S. won't cut and run (San Antonio Express News)
- Safety burden shifts to state after Iraq war (Washington Times)
- Humvees to electrify Afghanistan (Army Times)
- Soldiers build outpost from ground up high above Afghan valley (The U.S. Army)
- Bomb-sniffing dogs are Soldiers' best friends (Los Angeles Times)
OF INTEREST
- White House decries WikiLeaks' release of Afghan war documents (Los Angeles Times)
- At Arlington Cemetery, years of problems (Washington Post)
- Editorial: Pentagon: A suspicious form of mentorship (Boston Globe)
- Event connects Gold Star Families, kin of those who died in military service (Washington Post)
- More telework, less travel: What new pollution goals mean for feds (Federal Times)
- Advisory board urges DoD civilian staff cuts (Army Times)
WORLD VIEW
- Afghanistan: The war logs (The Guardian)
- Pakistan denies Wikileaks reports it 'aided Taliban' (BBC)
- Burma is working on nuclear weapons program, experts claim (London Daily Telegraph)
- U.S. and S. Korea begin joint drill (Al Jazeera)
- Weekend of Pakistan drone attacks leaves 35 dead (BBC)
- 4 killed, 10 injured in Al Arabiya suicide bombing (Al Arabiya)
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